QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
Although there are many types of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the brain, the rewarding effects
produced by chronic cigarette smoking are mediated at:
A) postsynaptic alpha3beta4 receptors
B) postsynaptic a4b2 receptors
C) presynaptic a7 receptors
D) presynaptic a4b2 receptors - CORRECT ANSWER c) presynaptic alpha 7 receptors
Amphetamines increase attention and awareness by the user of his environment. The brain region
affected by this response is the:
A) nucleus accumbens
B) prefrontal cortex
C) locus ceruleus
D) hypothalamus - CORRECT ANSWER c) locus ceruleus
Which of the following is an enzyme expressed in the liver that is responsible for degradation of
catecholamines found in the diet and absorbed from the small intestine?
A) cyp1a2
B) tyrosine hydoxylase
C) dopamine b-hydroxylase
D) monoamine oxidase - CORRECT ANSWER d) monoamine oxidase
A 24-year old graduate student has died of a drug overdose. Postmortem blood samples reveal the
presence of the following chemicals: methylecgonidine, benzoylecognidine and ecgonidine
methylester. The drug overdose was caused by:
A) cocaine hydrochloride
, B) crack cocaine
C) cocaine hydrochloride/alcohol
D) methylenedioxymethamphetamine - CORRECT ANSWER b) crack cocaine
Which of the following drugs is a substrate for the vesicular monoamine transporter?
A) methylphenidate
B) cocaine
C) methamphetamine
D) none of the above - CORRECT ANSWER c) methamphetamine
Which is not a target for the action of caffeine?
A) phosphodiesterase
B) adenosine a1 receptor
C) adenosine a2a receptors
D) dopamine beta hydroxylase - CORRECT ANSWER d) dopamine beta hydroxylase
Cocaine and alcohol are commonly co-used and abused drugs. Disulfiram is a useful drug treatment
for alcohol and cocaine abuse. Which of the following is not a mechanism of action of disulfiram for
effective treatment of cocaine/alcohol abuse?
A) inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase
B) inhibition of aldehyde dehydrogenase
C) inhibition of carboxylesterases
D) accumulation of cocaethylene - CORRECT ANSWER a) inhibition of tyrosine hydroxylase
Weight gain is a predictor for nicotine relapse after a smoking cessation treatment. Which of the
following might be useful as an adjunct treatment that would minimize weight gain in a subject who is
trying to quit cigarettes?
A) CART peptides